Lost Aussie on the loose

Think, Feel, Dream...

Simply look with perceptive eyes at the world about you, and trust to your own reactions and convictions. Ask yourself: "Does this subject move me to feel, think and dream?" (Ansel Adams)

Perhaps we will find the answers to that question in 2011?

I am going to tap the light fantastic in New York City tonight and welcome the New Year in with a bunch of friends over entertainment and dinner.

I wish you all a fun and festive Eve and a New Year filled with joy and accomplishment, peace and prosperity.

Distraction

... subliminal thinking is my take on this one - a mythical place to be and various other subtexts...

torrid conversations with someone that I'd rather have nothing to do with - always leave me exhausted, mentally and physically

peace is my pen scratching it's way across the tablet, almost unbidden.

Snowy Trails (or is that trials?)

We survived the "Blizzard" with around 12 inches of snow being dumped on our driveway but in some parts of the garden the drifts were much higher than that.
Thanks to DH's efforts with the trusty snowblower we cleared most of it away in a couple of hours and at least it made a change from working out on the treadmill in the basement! Long Island, Dec 27th, 2010

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Earlier today we had some little falls of snow that left the garden dusted nicely and made it all quite picturesque ....

....now, we have 50mph winds galloping through the wood behind the house and literally drifts of snow all over the place and the thermometer reads 23F - without the wind chill!!!

I think there's really only about 6 or 8 inches, but it's hard to tell AND I can't believe I just typed THAT! - only 6" of snow! - coming from a "downunder beach person" - I clearly have been living here a LOT longer than I thought!  How scary!

Merry Christmas

from our House to Yours!

Reflection

There's the hustle and bustle
the holiday lights
folk dashing hither and thither
last minute things to be done
cooked, bought, sought

but shortly there will be a time
to stop for a moment

to marvel
at things passed this year
things achieved
loves found and loves lost
wonders dreamed of and seen
some not
prayers sent
and some met
folk we miss, and some we forgot

and perhaps amidst it all
you can find time to find you

think about who you are
who loves you
thinks about you
does not mind that you have paint on your fingers
glue in your hair
photoshop on your brain
or perhaps just dirt under your nails

perhaps amidst it all, there will be a moment to feel

you are loved

no matter what...

What a Gift!

A Knock at the Door

Yesterday there was an unexpected knock at my front door.  No packages were expected, the mail lady had already been, so it was with piqued interest that I opened the door to an elderly gent bearing a big bowl of gorgeous Christmas flowers.

It turns out that they were a lovely Christmas thought sent all the way from Canada from my friend Nancy.  Totally unexpected, absolutely beautiful and they do a wonderful job of adding some Holiday cheer to the house.

Thank you my sweet FRIEND!

Dare I Tell You..

... that my Christmas Tree is still not up and aside from a few Pointsettia gracing the hearth and some Cranberry candles perfuming the air - the house looks no different to usual!

I suppose there is still time to do something festive, but to be honest, with the boys not here this year, I just do not have the heart.

I may just content myself with decorating the blog in festive garb - as I am working on the new class for January, and Photoshop seems to be on the boil non-stop.

Oh and if you would like to look at pictures without the distraction of dialogue - check out my TUMBLR blog.  It's a little haven of new stuff that has no relevance here.

The Winter Girl

It's been a while since I made a new "lady" - so in honor of this chilly season - here is a Winter one and as it's a scant 25F outside, she is fairly apropos.

Out and about news includes a trip to Brooklyn today to visit the Artist and Fleas markets.  DH and I decided to try getting their by train (to avoid the holiday traffic) and whilst we might have accomplished THAT it was not the most enjoyable of journeys - cold, miserable and chilly and now my nose is streaming...
I need to remember to listen to my inner voice when it says "stay home"! and honestly? - the markets were lacking in creativity and innovation. 
Today, artistic endeavours seemed to be limited to screen printed Tshirts, average jewelery of insignificant design and letterpress cards.... come on people!
I have to say, Art N Soul vendor nights kick ass big time by comparison.

Ear, ear...

These two photos have really nothing in comon except for the fact that there is a fair amount of EAR magic going on...

Above - snapped today, our polydactyl cat - Max who responds to anything from Max to Smaxy Maxy to Snic' (short for Snickerdoodle - don't ask me why!)  He's totally adorable but definitely rules the roost around here.

And below, a beloved little clay sculpture of a reclining Kangaroo.  I picked it up years ago at a little craft shop in Albany, Australia (that sadly no longer exists).  I thought for the longest time that it had got lost but I found it again this time I was back in Perth, so that made me rather happy.